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Considering CPUs already have a hidden OS that runs on standby power and can update over the Internet, I'd say we're already there. Intel can brick your comput
by hypertele-Xii 5y ago
Considering CPUs already have a hidden OS that runs on standby power and can update over the Internet, I'd say we're already there.
Intel can brick your computer remotely just as easily as Apple can. The only reason they have not done so, is because the US government haven't told them to.
Same applies to Chinese telecom equipment of course, and the Internet itself.
In fact, it's a feature of weapons sold as well. US supplied fighter jets will conveniently not allow firing on sources of secret US codes transmitted.
Most people have no clue that even their SIM card runs its own operating system, that communicates and is powered remotely. Not from great distance but still.
- southerntofu 5y ago> powered remotely. Not from great distance but still. What do you mean with this? Do you have a link explaining in more detail?
- hypertele-Xii 5y agoOh sorry my brain skipped from SIM cards to other cards with NFC chips. I don't actually know if SIM cards do NFC. In short, computers powered wirelessly over short distances. A larger, fixed device with ample power ("card reader") produces a radio field; The NFC chip is an antenna with a computer that gains enough power from the radio field itself to do computation on the signal and transmit a response. Since the NFC chip is obviously very low power, it has to be close enough to be heard. But anyone with the right kind of portable card reader can attempt to communicate with your NFC cards in your wallet simply by passing you on the street. Phones, of course, already communicate over long distances, so NFC would be somewhat pointless on a SIM card specifically :P
- jeroenhd 5y agoSome SIM cards work together with certain banks to provide NFC payments. This is because the SIM card is a security chip by design, and some banks didn't trust the security of the smartphones that were common back then. I don't think they contain their own NFC hardware, but I've definitely seen a connection there.
- wongarsu 5y ago> Intel can brick your computer remotely From a technical standpoint they can, but it would be illegal. If war with China breaks out it could certaily happen that the US bricks their computers and they brick our communications, and both side work hard to mitigate that by reducing dependence on each other. But at least in peace time we can for all intents and purposes claim to own the CPU, even if we don't have full control.
- hypertele-Xii 5y agoI disagree. For example, my ownership of my toothbrush is NOT affected by a war; Therefore I have ownership of my CPU less than full, which, less than full ownership by definition is some degree of renting. It's a lease protected by international agreements and peacetime, but a lease nontheless. Actually I just realized all ownership is backed only by law. Hmm. I guess consumer protection affords me reimbursement if Intel bricks my CPU. If I'm at war with USA, who cares about consumer protection at that point? :D
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago> The only reason they have not done so, is because the US government haven't told them to. Source for that please. > US supplied fighter jets will conveniently not allow firing on sources of secret US codes transmitted. Source for that too please.
- hypertele-Xii 5y agoAs these are secret military tech capabilities, you'll probably find little proof. But if you consider for a moment what a mere corporation is capable of (and in fact government mandated to backdoor), surely the military is capable of (and again mandated to) much much more? I mean we have everything from biometric handguns to autonomous strike drones, what military industrial complex would sell weapons they can't disable at will?
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 5y agoIf there's no evidence for your claims then you should avoid making them.
- hypertele-Xii 5y agoThe first rule of gunrunning is: Don't get shot with your own merchandise.